Thill-coupling



(No Model.) I

J. W. MULLINS & R. M.. JAGKSONQ THILL GOUPLING-.. Patented De0. 4,1894.

INVENTORS w, 7mm M 771, xaakdm NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. MULLINS, .OF FARISTON, AND ROBERT M. JACKSON, OF LONDON,

i KENTUCKY.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,441, dated December4, 1894.

Application filed May 10,1894. $erial No. 510,726. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. MULLINS, of Fariston, and ROBERT M. JAOKSON, of London, in the county of Laurel and State of Kentucky, bothcitizens of the United States,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thin-CouplingAttachments;

and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexactdescription of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a plan view oftheinvention applied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of coupling with thilliron raised and partially broken off.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inthill couplings, the object being to provide a coupling bolt havingmeans whereby the said bolt may be securely locked in position and forpreventing the rattle which commonly occurs from wear and lost motion.

With this object in view theinvention consists in the novel constructionand combination of parts all as hereinafter described and pointed out inthe appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the letter A indicates the clip,having the perforated lugs or ears B, B.

O is the thill iron, and D is our improved coupling bolt. Said boltengages the barrel of the thill iron and the perforations of the lugs orcars in the usual manner, and which carries a brake arm E which extendsunderneath the eye or barrel of the thill iron, and has an upward bendor swell at a, which contacts with the under surface of said eye orbarrel. This brake arm is connected to the head of the bolt by a large,approximately circular lateral spring loop which integrally joins or isfirmly secured to the upper portion of the head of said bolt. Thetension of this loop is such as to throw the bend or swell at aagainstthe eye or barrel with considerable force, whereby all rattling isefiectually prevented. Said arm extends laterally beyond the barrel, andhas, at b, a catch or shoulder which engages with the lug or ear B atthat side, thus securely locking the bolt against turning and accidentalwithdrawal.

We are aware that it is not new to provide a bolt with a spring lockingextension, and we do not claim such a device broadly; but we do not knowthat a thill coupling bolt has ever been provided with a rigid brake armarranged to bear against the under sideof the thill eye or barrel andconnected to the head of the bolt by a large lateral spring loop thetension of which holds said arm in braking engagement with the said eyeor barrel.

Having described our invention, what we 6 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is i.

As a new article of manufacture, the herein described bolt forthill-couplings, said bolt having its head provided with an extensionarm bent to form a large oval spring loop extending beyond said head aconsiderable distance in the longitudinal plane of the bolt, the freeend portion of the loop being extended underneath the bolt beyond theopposite end thereof and formed with an end. catch and with an upwardbend or swell adapted to bear against the thill iron, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN W. MULLINS. ROBERT M. JACKSON. Witnesses:

D. F. BROWN, J. T. HATCHER.

